Crawford County

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT CRAWFORD COUNTY - PAGE 2

TRAVERSE CITY - The Cadillac Michigan State Police post announced Wednesday that Gary Michael Welch, a 56-year-old Oscoda man, was the victim in the fatal shooting that occurred in Traverse City early Tuesday morning. According to investigators, Welch was shot dead after he confronted police with a high-powered rifle following a multi-county chase beginning in Crawford County. Investigators from the Cadillac post are continuing their investigation after officers from the Traverse City Police Department and deputies from the Crawford County Sheriff's Department fired at Welch, fatally wounding him in the front yard of a Traverse City residence.

CRAWFORD COUNTY - A second suspect in the July 29 killing and beheading of a 6-year-old pit bull in Lovells Township was arrested after he turned himself in at the Crawford County Jail Aug. 22. Daniel Thomas Weiskirch, a 27-year-old Crawford County resident, allegedly confessed to the deputy handling the investigation of his involvement in the case in which an initial suspect, Seven Anthony Stuart, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of...

UPDATE: 1 p.m. Monday Sheriff Kirk Wakefield reported today (Monday) the suspect in the shooting and beheading of a pit bull in Crawford County last week turned himself in to authorities around 11:35 a.m. Sunday. Seven Anthony Stuart turned himself in at the Crawford County Jail and is charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty and is currently out on bond. Wakefield stated deputies had been in phone contact with Stuart, who had left the state and was in Alabama. He reportedly drove back to Crawford County from Alabama and turned himself in. The case remains under investigation.

CRAWFORD COUNTY - Two men who confessed to killing another man's pet in 2012 were sentenced Sept. 9 in a Crawford County courtroom. Seven Anthony Stuart and Daniel Thomas Weiskirch pleaded guilty on two counts of animal cruelty after shooting and beheading Smokey, a 6-year-old pit bull, in July of 2012. Judge Janet Allen of the 46th Circuit Court presided over the sentencing. Stuart, who was 18 at the time of the incident, was sentenced to five months in jail and three years of probation under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which allows the charges to be removed from his permanent record if he completes his probation successfully.

GRAYLING (AP) — The state says a bolt of lightning struck a jack pine tree, causing a wildfire that burned 817 acres of northern Michigan woodlands. Officials said Wednesday that fire crews have fully contained the blaze that began in Crawford County west of Grayling. Authorities discovered the fire Tuesday afternoon. It destroyed or damaged several buildings and forced the temporary evacuation of about 100 homes. Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Mary Dettloff says National Weather Service radar showed a lightning strike in the area Monday night.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - Police say officers fatally shot a motorist who pulled out a high-powered rifle following a multi-county chase in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula. The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports ( http://bit.ly/ST9VEU ) the 56-year-old Oscoda man fled deputies in Crawford County. Police say Tuesday morning the man was chased into Grand Traverse County and he was fatally shot at a Traverse City home where he confronted officers. Police say Crawford County sheriff's deputies and Traverse City police fired at him. No officers were wounded.

CHESTER TWP. - A wildfire burned Friday afternoon in a secluded section of Otsego County's Chester Township. The fire was visible from the city of Gaylord at approximately 4 p.m. and fire crews from across Otsego County and Crawford County responded to the scene. The firefighters continue to battle the blaze, which covered multiple acres. Visit www.gaylordheraldtimes.com for more updates as they become available.

CRAWFORD COUNTY - The Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) is drawing down Big Creek Impoundment in Crawford County to address structural issues with the dam's outlet pipe. The drawdown has already begun after problems were revealed during a routine inspection by the dam safety unit of the Department of Environmental Quality. The structure is the responsibility of the DNR's Fisheries Division. Big Creek Impoundment is 97 acres and is surrounded by public land. DNR unit manager Dave Borgeson said the flooding is a popular attraction for anglers.

CRAWFORD COUNTY - Wellington Farm Park is scheduled to open for the season shortly and is seeking volunteers. The organization is looking for people who enjoy the outdoors and would be willing to donate as little as four hours a month, according to founder Howard Taylor. Volunteer orientation classes will begin Saturday, April 27. Wellington Farm Park is located at 6944 S. Military Road, a short drive from Exit 251 off of I-75, just south of Grayling. Anyone interested should contact the farm by e-mail at welfar32@gmail.com or calling 529-7331.

LIVINGSTON TWP. - A deputy was dispatched around 4:05 p.m. Tuesday to Kohl's, 2450 W. M-32, in Livingston Township for a retail fraud complaint. Reports indicate two suspects, an 18-year-old male and a 17-year-old female, both from Crawford County, were allegedly caught attempting to steal shoes and other items inside the store. Both subjects were arrested on a charge of retail fraud and after being fingerprinted at the Otsego County Jail were released with misdemeanor citations.